GOLDEN GATE XPRESS //
STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER PROUDLY SERVING THE SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY SINCE 1927.
// 05.22.13
VOLUME LXXXXVI ISSUE 16
THE NEXT STEP: As they leave life at SF State behind, the graduating class of 2013 takes the next step toward real world success
How to dress for your grown-up interview:
See Page
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Summer in the City: See Page
PHOTO BY MIKE HENDRICKSON
Dorm arrests spark protests: See page
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SF State students rally against alleged police brutality following the removal of unregistered guests from campus dorm PHOTO BY ERICA MARQUEZ
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2 CAMPUS SF STATE SPEAKS OUT WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF ONE YEAR OUT OF COLLEGE?
MARISSA WHITTEN, 26 HISTORY MAJOR
I’m thinking of pursuing a Ph.D. I’d like to teach, but given the current state of the economy I see myself doing a few internships.
JAMES NICHOLAS DEANGELIS, 18 CINEMA MAJOR
James Nicholas DeAngelis. You will know that name. Seriously, I’m extremely hopeful for the imminent future.
APRIL TENCHAVEZ, 22 PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR
After graduate school I see myself counseling for a high school.
NANCY JOHNSON, 19 MUSIC MAJOR
Hopefully in the music industry singing. Photos by: Gavin McIntyre Reporting by: Coburn Palmer
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Dorm guests cause campus uproar
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added she feels safe with the extra police officers around the building. She also said no one has informed her of any additional security measures or addressed the incident in general. Greenwell tried his best to field a slew of questions coming from a combination of students and non-residents who were involved in Thursday night’s incident. “I think the dialogue went well,” Greenwell said about the Malcolm X Plaza gathering. Wages, who was also in attendance on behalf of her non-resident friends, felt that “little progress” was made during the gathering. “We’re going to go to the jail and hopefully try to demand some medical attention for our friends,” said 19-year-old Siobhan Wynne, a friend of Wages. “Apparently, two of them were hospitalized, but another four haven’t been and they were all beaten.” The gathering was preceded by a march to the Administration Building to confront SF State MARCHING: Protestors march from Malcom X Plaza to Mary Ward officials. A group of about 20 peoHall at SF State. Protestors are responding to an incident last Thursday ple sat on the lobby couches and in which five people were arrested and removed from Mary Ward Hall. conversed with Greenwell about Photo by Dariel Medina medical attention for the non-residents now detained. the incident was sent out at 10:45 p.m., Greenwell then advised the about three hours after the incident began. group to gather in Malcolm X Plaza to “The mass communication system was discuss what the protesters wanted. Shortly THE DORM ARRESTS used in an attempt to dispel far-ranging after the Administration Building sit-in, Police arrested and forcefully removed and false rumors, notably rumors on social emergency coordinator Kit Bomar requestsix non-residents in Mary Ward Hall media and on the internet in general,” said ed that everyone, including employees, Thursday, May 16. Griffin. “Management of the situation itself leave the building immediately. A group of eight to 10 non-residents were invited into the dormitory earlier that did not require mass communication — diANONYMOUS’ TUESDAY RALLY evening, according to resident Luis Garcia. rect communication between residence hall staff and residence had taken place.” Tuesday, May 21 at 2 p.m. in Malcolm The group was followed by San Francisco During the arrests, UPD Chief of X Plaza, protesters announced that suspects Police Department officers from a comPolice Patrick Wasley was taken away on arrested in Thursday night’s incident at Mary mune on Capital Avenue and Broad Street a stretcher, Griffin said, and put into an Ward Hall would be released by 5:30 p.m. that had been shut down by police the ambulance because of “cardiac arrest,” About 30 people congregated in front previous day according to Tiffany Wages, according to San Francisco Fire Departof the Plaza where they hung signs that who invited them into her room. ment personnel. read, “Welcome to San Francisco PoPolice identified where the non-residents lice State University,” referring to the were located in the building and amount of force used by the SFPD began forcefully removing them. after they removed and arrested Mary Ward Hall residents the individuals at the dormitory. Miranda Gonzales and Kenneth The charges made against the six Anyanwu said that residential arrested were downgraded to misdeadvisers rushed down the halls meanors. to tell tenants to “evacuate the Protesters claim the injured building” at around 7:30 p.m. after suspects were not given medical aid a fire alarm was pulled by one of after being arrested. They criticized the non-residents. administration for not doing enough The non-residents stay at Mary to help. Ward Hall violated several Univer“If you have any kind of ethics sity housing agreements, Universiyou would help a human being ty spokesperson Ellen Griffin said. and make a phone call to get them One overnight guest is allowed medical attention,” communications per host resident. The maximum major Celia Gonzalez said. “This room occupancy is five people. is not the first or the last police ADMINISTRATION RESPONDS: Dean of Students Joseph Greenwell SFPD told Griffin two dogs were brutality incident.” with the non-residents and only (left) speaks with second-floor Mary Ward Hall resident Siobhan Wynne Protestors urged administration service animals are allowed in (friend and hall mate of Tiffany Wages) after he addressed students and and UPD to take responsibility for University housing. onlookers’ concerns about the resident hall incident that occurred the injuring those arrested. Additionally, a portion of evening before. Photo by Virginia Tieman The crowd later marched to section 1.20 of the Residential Life Mary Ward Hall, but were denied policies and procedures states, FRIDAY’S PROTEST access to the building after officials closed “Residents will be required to sign in Friday, May 17, a group of 50 students all entrances. their guest at the residential community and citizens gathered in Malcolm X Plaza at At one point, protestors blocked traffic desk and present a registered guest pass, 5:30 p.m. to discuss their concerns described on Lake Merced Boulevard as they walked when asked, while visiting the residential as “police brutality” the night before. toward the University Police Station. community.” The group met with Dean of Students Police officers stopped protestors at The group of guests did not have regisJoseph Greenwell and asked what was every entrance of the station. After a few tered guest passes. minutes of standing outside the building, “They’re acting as if they always follow being done to aid the people who were hospitalized and arrested. the group discovered that the suspects it,” student Nick Camacho said, referring Greenwell responded with, “We’ll see would be released from San Francisco to the policy. “Every single guest you have what we can do.” County Jail before 5:30 p.m. over during the day isn’t signed in.” Freshman and Mary Ward Hall resident “They still have charges pressed Six arrests were made overall. Five against them, so they’re not completely were for resisting a peace officer, trespass- Jaclyn Clark said it’s not the arrests that bother her, but the protest in response. free,” demonstrator Issac Kirk said. “Furing, conspiracy, battery of a police officer “The protestors are making things thermore, they are still being targeted by and lynching, which is an attempt to uncomfortable,” 18-year-old Clark said. police officers. Until these police officers remove a person from custody of a peace “They’re sitting outside the building yellare held accountable for their actions, I officer, said Griffin. The other arrest was ing and protesting.” don’t think this battle will be over.” for drinking in public. They were sent to Clark thought there was “nothing Coburn Palmer and Chris Sanchez San Francisco County Jail, said Griffin. wrong” with what the officers did, and contributed to this report. A University-wide SFSU alert about F STATE HAS hosted its share of excitement in the past week with six arrests, two protests and a load of stress to students, staff and faculty. The arrest of six non-resident persons at SF State on the night of Thursday, May 16 sparked a protest of about 50 students and citizens led by SF Commune members who said their friends were victims of “police brutality,” the following day at Malcolm X Plaza. Viral YouTube videos documenting the event aroused city interest luring activist group Anonymous to join the protest and organize a rally of about 30 people Tuesday afternoon. The recent events on campus have created tension throughout SF State and provoked conversation among students and SF State officials. Some involved in the conversation were prospective SF State students as well. “I’m going to be coming here (next fall), but I’m definitely going to be keeping an eye out for myself,” 18-year-old Hannah Stutz said. “I definitely don’t think I’m going to be living on campus.”
BY DAN NELSON | danelson@mail.sfsu.edu
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Xpress, practice what you print A WEEKLY ENVIRONMENTAL COLUMN BY ELISSA TORRES
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elissat@mail.sfsu.edu
HROUGHOUT THE semester, this column has preached about doing your part, taking a stance on what is right and putting the environment before your needs. It’s no secret that newspapers aren’t the most environmentally conscious way of publishing content. In the past 40 years the consumption of paper has risen by 400 percent, according to the Global Ecology Network. The Xpress is a part of that rise. The Golden Gate Xpress is a weekly publication that prints 10,000 copies per issue. With 16 issues per semester, that’s 160,000 copies of the Golden Gate Xpress printed every semester. It doesn’t sound like we’re practicing what we’re preaching, now does it? There are many environmental predicaments dealt within newspaper production. Paper waste contains hazards such as toxic inks, dyes and polymers that could be carcinogenic when incinerated. Pulp and paper are the third largest industrial polluters to air, water and land in the United
States and Canada. Together, they release more than 100 million kg or 110,231 tons of toxic pollution each year. They also account for 35 percent of municipal solid waste. Nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide are emitted during paper manufacturing. Nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide contribute to acid rain while carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, causes climate change. Many newspapers print their content using volatile organic compounds (VOCs), organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure in room temperature conditions. Some examples of VOCs are acetone, benzene, toluene and ethylene glycol. Heavy metals and non-renewable oils are also included in the ink that is used to print newspapers. According to the Environmental Protection Agency's National Emissions Inventories, the printing industry ranks fifth in volatile organic compounds emissions among major industries. In recent years, there has been a trend of using vegetable and soybean oils rather than petroleum oils due to the high demand to be environmentally friendly. According to the Golden Gate Xpress’ printer, Southwest Offset Printing, our paper is not made of recycled paper and is 100 percent elemental chlorine free and contains nontoxic soy ink. The industry standard is to not use recycled paper because it's so expensive, even though it prints a better, cleaner sheet. "We are certified environmentally friendly, the paper we produce contains low emissions, is biode-
gradable and the ink comes off very easily. All the unused paper is made into bales, like hay bales, and we take them to a recycling plant to be reused into other paper products," said Kevin Campau, Southwest Offset Printing customer service representative. The United States government does not have any regulations or standards when it comes to the process of how newspapers are printed and recycled. Governmental regulations are necessary to ensure the United States is doing its part in saving the environment. Newspapers have a long history as an American pastime; the idea of opening a newspaper and reading the news with your morning coffee is a very romanticized version of how some choose to consume the news. It is comforting to know that not all newspapers have a negative effect on the environment, contrary to popular belief. The Golden Gate Xpress’ main goal is to put out content, seek truth and provide SF State with a reliable source of information. That is something that will never change. What should change, however, is how the papers of the world are printed. When Elissa Torres isn’t rescuing wounded marine mammals or hugging trees, the environmental studies minor spends her time writing this column. It’s based on equal parts opinion, statistics and life experiences. If you don’t like it, read and recycle.
4 CITY
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Gators get out there: a summer city guide BY COBURN PALMER | cpalmer@mail.sfsu.edu With three months of freedom just on the other side of finals, SF State students may wonder what to do with their free time this summer. Across campus students are packing up their dorm rooms and apartments, checking out summer jobs and trying to decide how to spend the next three months. Before heading for the hills check out this list of activities the Xpress has compiled to keep you busy this summer. GOLDEN VIEW: A view of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge from Baker Beach in the Presidio. Photo by Jessica Worthington
Golden Gate Bridge and the Presidio – If you’re feeling up for some exercise why not take a stroll across this bridge that stretches for 4,200 feet? If you’re looking for a less strenuous way to see the Golden Gate, you can still catch a great view of the bridge by visiting the Presidio.
Alcatraz – The famous prison that once housed Al Capone is accessible by ferry seven days a week. Take a trip out to the island for a tour of the notorious prison or go bird and sea life watching. The night tour, which costs an extra $7, allows visitors an amazing view of San Francisco as night falls. Hours: Tours leave every half hour starting at 9 a.m. Cost: $30 per day tour
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: A man purchases a meal at a restaurant in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Photo by Jessica Worthington
Chinatown – A great area for shopping, sightseeing or just to people watch, this 20-block neighborhood boasts the largest Chinese population outside of China.
Stairway Hikes – San Francisco’s crazy streets have created some great urban hikes that wind up scenic staircases and through gardens with great views. Some great ones include Pacific Heights, Inner Sunset, Presidio and Telegraph Hill.
MUSEUMS San Francisco’s museums offer free or reduced admission during these days. Put down that beer and get cultured.
Coit Tower – Situated on top of Telegraph Hill, this tower has been a part of the San Francisco skyline since 1933. Bring your walking shoes and be prepared to climb the hundreds of steps to the 360 degree observation tower. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Cost: $5 adult admission
California Academy of Sciences Free admission June 2
North Beach – This area of town is not actually a beach — nor is it anywhere near the water — but it’s definitely a hot spot. With an abundance of bars, restaurants and tourist sights such as Saints Peter and Paul Church, this area is sure to keep you occupied. The first Friday of each month is the First Friday’s Art Crawl in which many of the area museums stay open late for a self-guided walking art tour.
SF Zoo Free Admission June 5 and July 10 The Asian Art Museum Free admission the first Sunday of each month
Must-See Summer Events
San Francisco Carnaval Festival May 25-26
BE A TOURIST. Ever get tired of those picture-snapping groups of people who never seem to know their way around town? Why not become one of them for a couple days? The summer offers great opportunities to get out and explore San Francisco. You will be one of the 16.5 million tourists; you’ll blend right in. Don’t forget to Instagram those famous views.
Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival Aug. 9-11
Union Street Eco-Urban Festival June 1-2
San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival June 7-30
San Francisco Pride June 29-30
Pistahan Parade and Festival Aug. 10-11
Haight-Ashbury Street Fair June 9
San Francisco Marathon June 16
AIDS Walk July 21
SF Street Food Festival Aug. 17
SF State Gators float their pride in parade
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HIS YEAR SF STATE WILL once again be joining one of the country's largest LGBTQ celebrations at the San Francisco Pride Parade June 30 — and this time with a float. "The Pride Parade is an extraordinary opportunity for the University to show our support for and pride in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community," SF State President Leslie E. Wong said. "It is also a way that we can convey to our students, faculty, staff — and our extended community of parents and alumni — that we continue to take great pride in our diversity and in the achievements of our community members who are also a part of the LGBT community." Recently SF State's LGBTQ community has had a greater impact on campus life with the grand opening of the Queer Resource Center, the third annual Pride Prom, SF State's first Lavender Graduation, as well
BY MAEGAN TINGLING | maegant@mail.sfsu.edu
as their second year in San Francisco's Pride Parade. Last year a group of SF State students simply walked in the parade, and this year the University will be represented with a float. Ten SF State students joined Dean of Students Joseph Greenwell at the initial meeting May 15 to discuss the University's involvement at this year's festivities. Some ideas included creating a balloon float of the University mascot and a student disc jockey. "Students are interested in creating a SF State float for the Pride Parade," Greenwell said. "Students have shown interest in continuing and growing our participation in this year's festivities." The Facebook event currently has 65 guests attending and organizers said they hope those numbers will increase. Creating the float will include potential collaborations with various groups on campus, according to Greenwell. Heather Russell, a design and industry major who
also works with Associated Students, Inc.'s Educational and Referral Organization of Sexuality, hopes to get her organization involved with Pride this year. "I have a feeling last year (since it was the first year) was not as great as they had hoped and they wanted to do something bigger and better," Russell said. Russell attended a Pride parade in the past, but this is the first year she will be participating with SF State. "My only concerns (in creating the float) are having enough people to help and having a plan that we can realistically accomplish. We have some great hands on deck so I'm sure it will turn out great," Russell said. Alumni and community members will be joining President Wong and SF State in the parade June 30. "I look forward to participating in the parade and to celebrating the best of what our city and our University represent," Wong said. A second meeting to discuss SF State's plans has not yet been confirmed.
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6 ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
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Grad rolls with Skateistan
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BY LOVELIE FAUSTINO | faustino@mail.sfsu.edu
EILA MZALI WAS ONLINE searching for an image of a girl on a skateboard when she stumbled upon a picture of an Afghan girl skateboarding. She clicked the photograph and was redirected to a site titled “Skateistan,” a non-governmental organization used to help empower Afghan girls and children working on the streets through education — and skateboarding. Mzali was instantly intrigued. “As a woman who's been very empowered by my own journey with skateboarding, I know how valuable the tool of skateboarding could be,” Mzali, 22, said. “But I also know kids from situations like that have the most potential to make a change. So to have the ability to go over there and be given the opportunity to go work with these kids and to help them with their journeys and make a difference in their lives is pretty much the most rewarding thing I can think of.” Originally her interest was in fundraising for the organization but when she navigated the site she realized she qualified to volunteer overseas. In a 2011 survey conducted by Bob Adams, CEO of America Wave, about 3.8 percent of 18 to 34 year olds planned to relocate out of the U.S. Mzali is a part of a minority who are actually leaving to work abroad after graduation. In three weeks the philosophy and religion major will work for a cause she feels very strongly about. Mzali will be traveling to Afghanistan to participate in a five-month internship program assisting Skateistan’s education curriculum. Since April, Mzali has spent her time fundraising money to pay for some of her expenses. Through a website called GoFundMe.com and some gracious donors, she was able to raise $1,700 for her trip so far despite her family’s lack of monetary assistance or initial support. “I think both of our reactions were ‘Oh no you’re not!’” Joey Mayer, Mzali’s mother said when she first heard of her daughter’s interest in moving to Afghan-
istan. “There’s no way you’re going and then we had to realize she is an adult. She is really very committed and had very good arguments in favor of what she was doing, none of which reduces the danger or anything but convinced me that she understands the danger and she is still willing to go ahead and do it. So she has my full support.” Mzali’s parents have always been protective of her, especially her father, Slim Mzali, she said. It was not until the age of 18 she started skateboarding. Slim forbade her from it throughout her adolescence fearing that she would get hurt. As much as he supports her choice to partake in Skateistan, he still worries for her well being. According to Maziar Behrooz, an associate professor in the history department who specializes in the middle east and Islamic studies, Slim Mzali and Mayer have a little less to worry about when it comes to their daughter’s safety while abroad in Kabul, the capitol and largest city in Afghanistan located on the eastern part of the country. “Afghanistan is in a state of civil war and that is no small thing. The war however is low intensity and concentrated mostly in the south and southeast of the country,” Behrooz said. “So, if the SK8ER GIRL: SF State graduate Leila Mzali will be traveling to Afghanistan to parpassenger is going to Kabul and will be ticipate in a five-month internship with Skateistan, an organization to help empower basically staying there, things should be Afghan children through skateboarding. Photo by Samantha Benedict safe.” Mzali has her own fears about her safety but stays optimistic and continues day but hey in San Francisco stuff happens here every to crave the opportunity to be a part of something she day too,” Mzali said. “You never grow staying in your truly desires. comfort zone and you just have to go balls to the walls. “I have security concerns going to a war-torn counOnce you’re on that plane it’s too late to turn back and try. I’m aware of the political situation in Afghanistan if you challenge yourself then you come to find you can both historically and currently. But the pros outweigh accomplish more than you thought you ever could.” the cons. It’s definitely scary, stuff happens there every
Students perform for a greater cause BY KRISTEN MARTZ | kmartz@mail.sfsu.edu and GUADALUPE GONZALEZ | ggonzale@mail.sfsu.edu While some bands use their shows to earn money for their own future endeavors, healthy foods that can be donated such as peanut butter, beans, lentils and whole grain others choose a different path: one of charity. Recently, a trend has risen where bands pastas. With this, SuperFood Drive aims to bring nutrient-dense food to people in need connect with humanitarian groups to fundraise money, food or other goods to donate. of real nourishment, rather than supplying them with "filler foods." Of these newer humanitarian acts is The Stone Foxes, composed of four SF State Hunger isn't the only social justice issue noticed by bands — The Pull, a local alumni, who now host food drives at all of their shows. Shannon Koehler, 25-year-old band with six SF State students — and one non-student — has recently partnered up broadcast and electronic communication arts alumnus and drummer/vocalist of The with humanitarian collective, Eyes on Arizona Collective. Stone Foxes, was a large contributor to the band's idea. Eyes on Arizona is an immigrant advocacy and community empowerment orAfter moving to San Francisco from a small rural town, Koehler found himself ganization started out of SF State Professor Jason Ferreira's ethnic studies class as overwhelmed by the amount of homelessness in his new city, where he has found a response to Arizona's controversial 2010 immigration laws. The organization, not further lyrical inspiration. affiliated with the University, joins efforts with other organizations to funnel resources "One of the first things that you notice coming into San Francisco is homelessness to the United States-Mexican border. and how prevalent it is — and we had never seen anything like that," Koehler said. "Their eyes are on Arizona, but their hands are in the Bay Area," said Ignacio Social justice issues, among those being Palmieri, executive community member and homelessness, frequent the lyrics of many of fundraiser coordinator. "Any time there is an the band's songs. One of their songs, titled exchange or some time of move of solidarity it's "Goodnight Moon," off their new record recognizing one another and it builds more con"Small Fires," was written about a homeless nection and cohesion within the community." man living on the streets of San Francisco. Earlier this month, The Pull played a show at "The song was about just making sure Balancoire in the Mission district where 25 perthat you don't get so desensitized. I think it's cent of the proceeds went to help the collective. very easy for folks walking around town to The Stone Foxes will be playing a free show just pass somebody by, even though they're at Lagunitas Brewing Company on June 3 and talking to them. Everybody has an identity encourage everyone to bring food to donate. and everybody deserves to be treated like a “Any time there's a Stone Foxes show, we human and not just some person over here want our fans to know they can always bring that you can just walk past," Koehler said. food. No matter where it is, what it is — we'll The Stone Foxes partnered up with San always take it and we'll make sure that it goes to Diego-based company SuperFood Drive — a great place,” Koehler said. with the help of facilitator Effect Partners Whether the issue is hunger relief, immigra— shortly after writing their new record to tion laws or any other social justice case, bands make their social justice dreams a reality. and organizations are teaming up frequently Fans can bring food to shows or donate now to make the world a better place. Students online through the The Stone Foxes' Superare taking notice and applauding their efforts. LIVE AID: The Pull perform at Balancoire in San Francisco’s Mission District. The performance Food Drive website if they can't make it to "For me, bands that give back to the commuwas part of a benefit show called “Rebels With A Cause” featuring two other bands, where the venue but want to make a difference. nity are ones that truly care about where they're proceeds went to Eyes On Arizona, an immigration advocacy group. The Pull is one of many SuperFood Drive focuses on healing from," Dylan Andersen, an English education hunger, but with healthy foods. Donators major, said. "As a music fan, I really appreciate bands contributing their art to for a humanitarian cause. Photo by Gavin McIntyre can download a pre-approved grocery list of that kind of effort."
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Clothe yourself in success BY NENA FARRELL | haydee@mail.sfsu.edu
Campus resources provide students with tools to help them make the right first impressions at their interviews
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S THE CLASS OF 2013 PREPARES TO LEAVE LIFE AT SF State, many graduates find themselves on the search for their future careers. Among the many important steps required to land that big job to pay the rent, learning how to dress for the occasion is key. Job interviews, according to the Houston Chronicle, are important for making an impression on your hopeful employer-to-be. It’s an opportunity to exchange information about yourself — and ultimately the chance to sell yourself as the best choice for the position. “Do your homework: What are people expected to wear for this type of position?” said Connie Ulasewicz, an associate professor of apparel design and merchandising. “Both males and females should look professional, nothing excessively baggy, tight, clinging or low cut. Determine before you arrive the policy for piercings and body art, and remove or cover as required.” Before you even get to the handshake, the first thing the employer will see is you and the outfit you chose to wear to meet them. Focusing on the latest trends or projecting your own personal brand through an interview ensemble has the possibility to majorly take away from the employer viewing you as a professional, said Ulasewicz. “What an interviewee wears can be a distraction or a vehicle for conversation,” Ulasewicz said. “You do want the interviewer to remember you, but what you think is trendy and what the interviewer thinks is trendy may be very different.” SF State offers many on-campus resources for students to educate themselves on the best way to dress and express themselves as a potential candidate for those competitive positions in the job market. One example is the Student Involvement and Career Center on campus, which has online services dedicated to helping interviewees prepare for an interview. There’s even a PDF for students to download dedicated to professional dress, along with a four-step guide to interviewing, questions for the employer/interviewer and how to follow up after the interview. “The Student Involvement and Career Center staff offer multiple workshops each semester to help students prepare for interviews and conduct job (and) internship searches,” said Sarah Bauer, the SICC director. “There is also an online program called Optimal Interview that SF State students can access by logging in to GatorJOBS and clicking on the green Optimal Interview button. This is an excellent resource for students that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” she said. Other resources students can utilize are student groups. Many different organizations, clubs, and Greek fraternities and sororities have business or professional focuses and provide tools for members and students to get ready for those big steps after college. One example is Delta Sigma Pi, a national professional fraternity whose Delta Omicron chapter is located at SF State. Tayler Thomas, the brotherhood games chair of the Delta Omicron chapter, found that being a member of Delta Sigma Pi was beneficial to her professional development. “Delta Sigma Pi has been a key player in my professional development,” Thomas said. “Nothing is more important than the first impression. What you wear is a key determining factor of that. Studies have shown that employers see the way TIE GAME: Jacky Chow, SF State senior and you take care of yourself as an indicator of how well you will handle the position. For example, criminal justice major, dressed in his job interif your hands are dirty, the interviewer might take view attire. Photo by Mike Hendrickson that as not detailed oriented.” Being prepared for your interview by taking the time to dress in a polished fashion is essential. Taking the extra time to dress neutrally and professionally can make the biggest difference in how your interviewer perceives your qualities. “The interview is the time to focus on your strengths, and why you are the best candidate for the position,” said Ulasewicz.
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35 8,738 graduates
5,724 bachelor’s
commencement ceremonies
MAY 25 ceremony date
obtained
19 1,432
doctorates obtained
5 DRESS TO IMPRESS: Ines Nefzi, an SF State freshman undecided major, dressed in her job interview attire. Photo by Mike Hendrickson
BY MAEGAN TINGLING | maegant@mail.sfsu.edu
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FEW YEARS AGO, IT WAS NORMAL TO GRADUATE WITH A bachelor's degree in four years or less. Since starting college at SF State in 2009, Kourtney Evans has had to delay her graduation due to financial hardships. "My loans barely cover my tuition. Rent, books, bills, and sustaining myself are all out-of-pocket expenses and I don't even make that much money," Evans said. "That's why I've always had to have a job to support myself." Depending on what Congress decides, interest rates on Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans may double to 6.8 percent July 1, increasing the financial stress students experience. The increase would only affect those who take new loans. On average, if an incoming college student takes out loans, they must payback $1,000 more than the previous group of graduates. Loans are broken up into subsidized and unsubsidized loans. Subsidized loans don't accrue interest while students are in school at least half time, or during the sixmonth grace period. Unsubsidized loans collect interest from the moment the loan is dispersed, according to Rose Arbulú at the SF State Office of Student Financial Aid. "Usually an unsubsidized loan will collect on average $136 a year in interest, depending on how much of it you accept," Arbulú said. Evans, a fourth year business marketing major, currently owes more than $25,000 in loans, which is just above average for students, according to Arbulú. The possible doubling of interest rates may be the reason students like Evans may be unable to afford additional loans, ultimately leaving her unable to attend school. A starting salary for an entry-level job in marketing is only $37,500 according to a Forbes article published in 2010. However with Evans' current income, she feels she can pay off the loan within four years. Alexandrea Manuel, a third year biology major, is already nearly $50,000 in debt. Manuel said that she was forced to borrow loans because she doesn't qualify for work study or grants. Most of her living expenses, including housing, bills, food and more are covered out-ofpocket. She doesn't plan on borrowing any loans for the upcoming school year. The average salary of a field research biologist is $77,400 according to statistics by the Glassdoor. DOLLARS AND SENSE: SF State Financial Aid Counselor Lorena Cassetta assists a "If I paid $700 a month to my loans with an averstudent at the Student Services center. Photo by Gabriella Gamboa age income, I can pay it off within seven to 10 years," Manuel said. Although, if students run into hard times or end up going on to graduate school, loan deferments are possible. "If you get sick or lose a job, you can change your payment plan to something that will be more affordable. Also if you do decide to go to graduate school your loans will be deferred once again, as long as you are enrolled more than half time," said Arbulú. With plans to attend grad school, Manuel doesn't think it is possible to go to school without borrowing loans and despite the cost of payback, students still find college very much worth its cost. "I think I will be good at (biology), and as long as I'm happy, I think I'll be able to pay it off," Manuel said. "So yes, I think college costs are worth it."
expected attendance
Commencement by the numbers
Business, Psychology, Communications Top three majors of graduating class
Students fall behind as loan rates increase
20,000
master’s obtained
years to graduate on average
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Ellie Loarca contributed to this report.
10 S P O R T S
Players prepare for post-collegiate life
UMMER IS FAST APPROACHING and graduation is lurking around the corner. Many of SF State's graduating athletes, from volleyball to cross country, spent most of their college lives deeply involved in their sport and are now preparing for the working world outside the University's bubble. Life after college for Samantha Battles, a defensive specialist on the women’s volleyball team, still includes the sport she’s been playing most of her life. She will return to her alma mater, Buchanan High School in Fresno, to replace her mother as the freshman volleyball coach. “Sports in the Central Valley is very competitive, it starts at a young age, and volleyball in particular is very competitive,” said Battles. “I know I can’t play anymore because I am not in school, but coaching is the next best thing.” During her high school days, Battles played for her mother’s varsity volleyball team, and though she is following her mother’s coaching footsteps, she said her experience at SF State allowed her to pave her own path and break away from the “Fresno bubble.” “It just brought me closer to my family and made me appreciate where I came from a lot more,” she said. “Having my mom as a coach, as annoying as it was, probably taught me way more than any other coach could have taught me.” Since her mother isn’t coaching at the school anymore, Battles is excited to step up and fill her shoes. “There’s still going to be a Coach Battles around and I think that’s kind of fun,” she said. “I’d like to think I got a lot of her coaching genes.” For cross-country runner Brian Trejo, graduation is just a stepping stone to his Ivy League dreams. The business marketing major is applying to Harvard University’s “2+2 Program” for undergraduate seniors that, upon acceptance, will require two years of professional work experience and ultimately guarantee a spot in the school's masters program. “I am the first person to graduate from college in my family,” said Trejo. “The next stop is to graduate from
graduate school.” Though Trejo will spend his first moments as a college graduate working with his mentor, SF State Dean of Business Linda Oubre, his connection to cross-country and the team will stay strong. “My younger brother is coming to SF State, and is hoping to join the team,” he said. “He has better running times than I do, and I’ll get to come back and watch him.” During Trejo's final year, the team qualified for NCAA nationals, placing 22nd overall. “We went from being second to last in the conference a couple years ago to being a true contender,” he said. “We are only getting faster, and it was great to see the team rise from the ashes in the time that I was here.” Naveed Bagheri, 23, spent five years as a collegiate wrestler. He said he redshirted his fourth year to train for his senior year since he wrestled his first three years without utilizing it. In that time, he worked to become the NCAA Divison II champion in the 141-pound weight class. He now works for Oracle, a database software firm. “I’m a person that always needs to work,” Bagheri said. Bagheri directly correlates his “hard-work” mantra from wrestling to his approach in the corporate world. Though the two fields share similar characteristics, the communications major advises that incoming student-athletes enjoy life in college. “This is the only time you get to experience this,” Bagheri said. “Make it count.” Sue Choi, another business marketing major who runs cross-country and track and field at SF State, will be continuing her job as an account coordinator on the tech team at a PR firm, VSCpr, after graduation. “I already worked full time there,” said Choi. “But now that I am graduating and won’t have school, I can work full, full time.” Choi said her experience running cross-country and track and field helped her develop the work ethic that got her the job.
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Juan Paul De Anda Nicole Ellis Alexander Cook Emslie Nelson Antonio Estrada Alicia Marie Fischer Emily Anne Gadd Daniel Thomas Gamberg Jessica Ann Graham Babak K. Haghighi Tearsa Joy Hammock Alejandrina Hernandez Heather Ito Kristina Michelle Kerley Kelly Leslie Ellie M. Loarca Sandra Erika Lopez Lauren Maureen Manary
Alvaro Alfaro Lisette Yadira Alvarez Jamie Bautista Balaoro Brittney Marie Barsotti Samantha Lee Battles Cassie Becker Cynthia M. Brooks Erin Samantha Browner Melissa Elaine Burman Caitlin Marie Byrne Hang Cheng Carolyn Lena Irene Copeland Julio Cesar Cortez Kealan Mary Cronin KC Crowell Erin Mize Dage
BY SHAYNA RUBIN | srubin@mail.sfsu.edu
FAMILY LEGACY: Samantha Battles, a photojournalism major, will be moving to Fresno after graduating this Saturday to coach volleyball at the school she once attended, Buchanan High School. Battles will be replacing her mother as coach. Photo by Dariel Medina
“Even though (track and field and cross-country) is a team effort, it’s also about the individual,” she said. “You always see the work you put into the race, and that taught me to always push through and commit.”
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S P O R T S 11
| 05.22.13
Athletes sacrifice summer to stay in shape BY SHAYNA RUBIN | srubin@mail.sfsu.edu
W
keeping a schedule.” ITH THE Dick spent the fall and most semester of the spring season out with a coming to knee injury and sees the suma close, mer conditioning program as it's time an opportunity to continue her for those recovery. over“Summer is about keeping stressed, up with fitness and skill,” she overworked students to unwind and said. “We can start worrying kickback in the summer glory. But for about our goal as a team once student athletes, the end of the school the season starts. We always just year is only the beginning to an intenfocus on the game ahead.” sive summer of training. For the cross-country team, “Summer is difficult for us,” said summer is a time to prepare to Kelly Coffey, the men's soccer assisdefend their reputation. The tant coach. “During the year, we work team had a successful season, with the athletes six days a week, and coming in fourth in the Western then suddenly we don’t see them for Region and qualifying for the 10 weeks straight. So it’s important NCAA nationals where they that they spend that time conditionfinished 22nd in the nation. ing.” “Now that we’ve been to For returning soccer players, the nationals, and had a taste of required workouts are essential in success, we want more,” said ensuring athletes come back in shape STAIR MASTER: Kaitlin Dick runs up the stairs in Cox Stadium at SF State as a part of summer training for soccer in Tyler Deniston, a fifth-year and less prone to injury, Coffey said. the fall. Photo by Mike Hendrickson cross-country runner. “This Students are given a conditioning next season is a chance for us to plan comprised of daily exercises like prove that we’re a top cross-country school in California.” a "20-minute speed ladder" — a set of 10 to 14, 100-meter sprints on Monday; a Returning runners’ summer workouts will include exercises like weight 35-minute continuous run on Tuesday and a three-mile run on Wednesday. The training, a two-hour run, and aqua jogging — an exercise mimicking running in a exercises become more complicated and intense each week. pool — intended to give the legs a workout without too much strain. Though the “We have a pretty young team next year,” Coffey said. “We have nine graduprogram is taxing, said Deniston, the athletes are fueled by a vision of success ating seniors and so we recruited a lot of freshmen. It takes a while for the young and nationwide recognition. group to figure out the fast college game and it helps if they come in fit and ready “If we maintain this, we can be desirable for high school recruits and have our to play.” name up there with cross-country teams like Stanford and Colorado, where you Coaches at SF State also push their athletes to play on an organized team know every year is a good year,” he said. during summer. Deniston agreed that athletes need to keep up with a regular workout routine “I encourage them to play doubles or sand so that their skills stay sharp over to stay on top of their game. the summer,” said Jill Muhe, the women's volleyball coach. The cross-country team is expected to run more mileage than they would While the programs are enforced to keep athletes on their feet over break, they during the school year — a task Deniston says is difficult, yet imperative to proare also designed to ensure that students have time for other summer plans. vide a foundation for training to come. “I work in the city, so I’ll be going back and forth home in the East Bay “If you want to be a good competitor, you have to keep working,” Deniston for training and here for work,” said Kaitlin Dick, a third-year women's soccer said. “And summer is no exception.” player. “It’s hard to balance, but it’s just a matter of getting the workout done and
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12 O P I N I O N STAFF EDITORIAL
Substandard student safety exposed
ADRIAN RODRIGUEZ
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF arrodrig@mail.sfsu.edu
JONATHAN RAMOS
PRINT MANAGING EDITOR jonaramo@mail.sfsu.edu
LINDSAY ODA
ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR loda@mail.sfsu.edu
HOLLY NALL
ART DIRECTOR hnall@mail.sfsu.edu
NENA FARRELL
PRINT COPY CHIEF haydee@mail.sfsu.edu
JORDAN HUNTER
ONLINE COPY CHIEF jordanh@mail.sfsu.edu
VIRGINIA TIEMAN
PRINT PHOTO EDITOR tieman@mail.sfsu.edu
SAMANTHA BENEDICT
PRINT PHOTO EDITOR sbenedic@mail.sfsu.edu
MIKE HENDRICKSON
ONLINE PHOTO EDITOR mhendric@mail.sfsu.edu
JASMIN TAYLOR
CAMPUS EDITOR jdt@mail.sfsu.edu
COBURN PALMER
CITY EDITOR cpalmer@mail.sfsu.edu
LOVELIE FAUSTINO
A&E EDITOR faustino@mail.sfsu.edu
SAM MOLMUD
OPINION EDITOR smolmud@mail.sfsu.edu
DAN NELSON
SPORTS EDITOR danelson@mail.sfsu.edu
CHRIS SANCHEZ
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N THE SEASON OF final projects, exams and graduations, students rely on the ability to pursue the end of the semester in a safe and secure environment. Since last week, that security has been called into question for many. Campus and city police were called to Mary Ward Hall after students reportedly invited non-resident homeless persons into the facility, May 16. The building was evacuated after one of the non-residents pulled a fire alarm. Confusion ensued following the evacuation, with student residents of the building left wondering what had occurred. The group of non-residents — identified as members of the squatter collective, SF Commune according to CBS Local — were arrested after reportedly resisting arrest. Nearly 50 protesters comprised of SF State students and SF Commune members gathered at Malcolm X Plaza the following day to protest, what students described as, the use of excessive force by police. Though there remains some ambiguity as to what happened that night, some students are turned off by the idea of remaining in the dorms another semester. Even students who were thinking of living on-campus for the first time
seem to be second guessing their plans. The biggest concern still remains: the security of the dorms. This is not the first time the SF State dorms have been at the center of security concerns. In October 2011, a woman, who was not an SF State student, visiting her SF State friends living in the Towers was sexually assaulted. More recently, April 28, there was another case of alleged sexual assault in the Towers at SF State. Many students pay up to $14,500 a year to live securely on campus. When that security is compromised or in question, the last thing students want is to be left out of the loop; or doubt their money is being used to properly maintain their safety.
ART BY KIRSTIE HARUTA kharuta@mail.sfsu.edu
SF State’s Residential Life website states that all visitors in the dorms are required to check in with staff and produce a guest pass if requested. If this rule was actively enforced, these types of scenarios could be avoided. In the event that safety in the dorms is compromised, especially when students are being evacuated from their homes, students deserve to know as soon as possible what has occurred. The school waited until nearly three hours after the evacuation to send out an alert. Students living in Mary Ward Hall and standing right outside the building were left guessing, though residents from the area could see more than a dozen cop cars surrounding the area. Ambiguity in a situation like this creates uncertainty and more stress for students. At a time when students need to focus all of their energy and commitment on finishing the semester, the approach the school took is not appropriate. At this time of year, when students are already struggling to manage all their responsibilities, the Administration should be doing everything in its power to make our lives easier. The Administration's slow response and lack of transparency only gives students the impression that they are more concerned with their image than they are with student success.
SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR sanchezc@mail.sfsu.edu
RACHELE KANIGEL
FACULTY ADVISER kanigel@mail.sfsu.edu
KEN KOBRE
PHOTO ADVISER ken@kobre.com
JESSE GARNIER
ONLINE ADVISER jgarnier@sfsu.edu
JUSTIN OROZCO
CIRCULATION jaorozo@mail.sfsu.edu
ARUN UNNIKRASHNAN I.T. CONSULTANT arun@mail.sfsu.edu
EVA CHARLES
ADVERTISING & BUSINESS echarles@mail.sfsu.edu
SADIE CROFTS
STUDENT GRAPHIC DESIGNER sgcrofts@mail.sfsu.edu
WRITE US A LETTER The Golden Gate Xpress accepts letters no longer than 200 words. Letters are subject to editing. Send letters to Sam Molmud at: smolmud@mail.sfsu.edu
ABOUT XPRESS The Golden Gate Xpress is a student-produced publication of the journalism department at San Francisco State University. For more information or comments, please contact Adrian Rodriguez at: arrodrig@mail.sfsu.edu
Class vacancy woes weigh on students BY JORDAN HUNTER | jordanh@mail.sfsu.edu
It's that happy time of year, where many of us watch as our peers graduate and go off into the world and their future careers. No doubt, graduating is a tremendous accomplishment. It takes a lot of work, even some blood, sweat and tears at times. Something as simple as enrolling in classes necessary to graduate every semester can impact the timeline of a student’s college career. According to the SF State Attrition Study completed in October 2012, 54 percent of full-time first-time freshman that enrolled in Fall 2005 had not graduated within six years. What is the problem? Why is it so hard to graduate in a timely manner? The answer is the ability to effectively register for classes. Many of us can reminisce on the torturous anxiety that occurs when it is time to once again register for classes. You sit at the computer watching the spots in a class fill up and you wonder if you will ever get to hold that degree. It is not uncommon for registration to come around and you once again find that one of your required classes is not being offered the next semester because of constant budget cuts. College Bound Network, a resource for college-bound students, in an article said, “Getting the classes you need once you embark on your educational endeavor is the ultimate goal when you register. After you've drawn up your dream schedule for the semester, you try to register but find that one or more of your classes has been filled to capacity. Now you have to scrap your plans and scramble for open sections. You may even have to start from scratch if scheduling conflicts arise.” Registration is the domino that will cause all the others to fall. Graduating in a timely manner is essential to some students and not getting classes can harm different opportunities offered to students. The minimum units a student must take to be considered for full-time financial aid is 12 units per semester. If a student fails to register for the the minimum units, their financial aid could be
pulled. With 63 percent of SF State students currently receiving financial aid, according to Collegedata.com, the rescinding of money can be a serious issue, possibly forcing the student out for that semester. Also, many students are offered internships or jobs for the summer as long as they are full-time students. If they are unable to register and get the necessary units, it could jeopardize a great opportunity. There can be alternatives. For all of you not graduating just yet, don’t fret. Community colleges can be a useful source if need be. Finishing that one GE class that you needed at a community college can be a cheaper and more successful way of getting those units. College Bound gives additional alternatives such as keeping “safety” courses in mind, seeking out the professor’s help with getting on the waitlist, or if worse comes to worse, whining. CNN Money also advises parents who want their children to graduate within four years: “Pick a supportive school. Colleges with much-better-than-average graduation rates often have adopted strategies to help students finish in four years.” I have never thought that a college could be unsupportive, maybe just poorly funded.What are these strategies? The strategies are not complicated to figure out, but implementing them seems to be the tricky part. Statistics will exist and classes will disappear, but it is successful planning and damage control that will get you closer to the finish line. If that does not work out and you are able to take a step back, take the five-year plan. Doesn’t everyone want to be in college forever? Maybe not, but do not overload yourself. Take what you can and when you can. To all of you who successfully graduated within four years, bravo, consider it quite an achievement. To all of you hopeful undergrads who are going to endure the woes of registration a number of times more, I wish you the best of luck.
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Life, death, sobriety and relapse after rehab Reflections on life after rehab, and the different roads traveled after finishing a drug addiction program
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VERYONE GOT A BRONZE coin for graduating drug rehab. Well, at least they did at the one I went to. All the ceremonies were the same. The coin is passed around among the patients. Each person then holds the coin, rubs it between their fingers and says something like: “I put strength and hope in this coin to help you stay sober.” I attended many of these ceremonies. Sometimes, I said heartfelt inspirational words; other times I spit out sarcastic, witty one-liners. I can't remember what people said during my graduation, and the bronze coin full of hopeful words was lost long ago. I only lasted two weeks out in the real word before I was consumed again by the obsession to use heroin. Other people from my graduating class lasted even shorter. A handful of them threw a graduation party where they all shot up heroin and cocaine. The odds of staying sober are grim. It's thought that only about two to three percent of the people who attend rehab actually stay sober for any serious length of time. Those percentages can be applied to any 12-step or drug rehabilitation program. While the numbers aren't entirely accurate, because it's hard to track addiction patterns over the course of someone's lifetime, they do shed light on the seriousness of alcoholism and drug addiction. Most alcoholics and addicts don't stay sober.
While the tools rehab taught me were soon forgotten, I did make a few friends there and we continued to meet up after graduation. One guy had the good connections. He took me to the spot outside of town near the railroad tracks and introduced me to the drug dealers who sold dope for half the normal price. Another one of the guys from rehab had never even shot heroin, so a couple of us junkies showed him the ropes. We hung out together for just a month or two until the darkness of the disease took hold, and we each went down our own horrible path alone. The guy with the good drug hookups left town, and the junkie novice went to jail for a year on a non-drug related conviction. I stayed put and shot more and more dope all alone in a trailer. About a year later, the junkie novice called me. It was his first day out of jail and he wanted to get high but didn't know where to buy it. I was busy. I was packing my car and getting ready to leave town for good to go live with my parents. He said he would split the dope with me if I could get it. I never turned down free heroin. He picked me up at my trailer and we drove down to the train tracks. We walked down the trails and found the drug dealers in the forest near a big redwood tree. I bought the dope with his money and then introduced him to the sketchy dealers. Everything was cool. He was in. He dropped me off by my car and I never saw him again. I left town that day and started on the path of sobriety. When I was a year sober, I got an unexpected call from an old rehab friend, the one who introduced me to the drug dealers on the tracks. He had been sober a year, too. But he had some bad news. The junkie novice, our friend, had hanged himself in jail. He was dead. I was shocked and saddened. I thought back to that day I introduced him to the cheap heroin drug dealers. After I left town, he must have blazed the junkie path hard, going in and
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out of jail. I guess it was too much for him, so he ended it. I never imagined that I would be the one to get sober and he would be the one to kill himself because of drugs. He was a smart and funny guy, who seemed like he had so much more potential for living life normally than I did. Life, death, drugs, alcohol — none of it makes sense. I've come to learn that life isn't about good or bad, right and wrong. No one deserves anything. We all just get what we get. Today, I'm grateful for what I have. Well, most of the time. At least I'm not the spoiled, ungrateful little brat I used to be. But it took a long time and a lot of pain before I ever considered I might be the problem and that I needed to change my perspective. I know only one thing: As long as I don't take a drink or a drug, I have a chance of living and enjoying my life. I want to thank everyone who read my column and supported me. My story is by no means special or unique. Many people have even greater heartbreaking and inspirational stories to tell. And every time that I hear a drug addict or alcoholic share their story, I'm reminded that I'm not alone.
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Students find a spot to cram PHOTOS AND TEXT BY FRANK LEAL | fleal@mail.sfsu.edu
Finals have once again crept into the lives of SF State students as they try their best to save their GPAs before mentally checking out for summer. This means students face extremely long hours cramming a semester's worth of knowledge into a few hours to gaurentee their passing grades before entering that three-month period of no
homework. While the library is a great place to crack open a book and sit for hours on end, during the end of the semester it’s swarmed with students who moan and groan until the week ends. Despite the blessing that the new J. Paul Leonard Library has been since its opening, many students have found it too cramped. They look outside the library to find
their own tranquil spaces to study. From Health and Human Services to Mary Park Hall, Gators are using any space they can find to crack down on their studies during finals week. Places such as dorm rooms, cafeteria tables and the grassy quad are being used as impromtu study spaces. The Xpress captured some of these moments below.
TOP RIGHT: To escape the anxiety that comes with being around other stress-filled students, SF State student Winnie Wong, retreats to the top of the Cesar Chavez Student Center to study for the final days of her spring semester in private. BOTTOM RIGHT: Vivian De Anda and Summer Steinert choose to break out of the confining spaces of the library to study for their finals in the grassy quad. TOP: Commuting Gators who struggle with finding parking around SF State, such as Keko Jackson, find it easier to crack open their books in their cars to study. BOTTOM: Psychology major Tony Williams studies in the somber stillness of SF State’s Garden of Remembrance located in between Fine Arts and Burk Hall Buildings.
ROOM WITH A VIEW: Students, like communications major Nyssa Compognis, cram into the available seating at the J. Paul Lenord Library, which fills up quickly during the last weeks of classes.
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